Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Thinkware is the leading dashcam maker in tech hungry South Korea…and the company is making inroads in the U.S. as well with full featured cameras can make driving safer…and sometimes even more fun. Director of North American business development Brian Yang says the latest, the Q800 Pro has arrived in Best Buy stores. The camera is QHD quality using a Sony sensor. It uses either your smartphone or a hotspot to connect online..
“Once it is connected to a hotspot, Thinkware Cloud service becomes active.”
Which supports geofencing and soon…live streaming…if you choose. The camera features lane departure and front collision warnings as well. Thinkware’s dashcams have proven to be reliable and produce impressive video quality.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. If your shopping for dads and grads…who happen to be runners….Garmin has just updated the line of Forerunner watches…that combine great features with traditional watch styling. Product Manager Joe Heikes says there are five new models in all that are really a step up from typical fitness watches. All have the ability to summon help through the incident detection feature..
“You know if you have a bicycle crash or God forbid you collapse when you’re running…that sort of thing.. it will start a countdown, and if you don’t cancel it, it will then connect to your smart phone and send a message to emergency contacts that you have identified in advance.”
With the message including GPS coordinates. Potentially life saving. For more on the line..head to Garmin.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. It was pretty impressive as a universal remote with voice control…but Caavo keeps getting better. The system consists of a small box that sits between your TV and the various sources of video you may have…and a voice controlled remote. It is smart…and now even smarter …with the ability to display information on screen if you have Sonos speakers on your network…and added control from your mobile phone iOS at first…Android to come. It can allow parents for instance to check up on what their kids are watching…and send them on screen messages. CEO Andrew Einaudi says It can help to check in on elderly loved ones as well…
“To provide you with notifications that the TV has been turned on, or the TV has been turned off so that sort of regular rituals are being observed.”
All permissions based. Caavo is now priced at only 59 dollars with the add on services priced at just 40 dollars a year.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. With Memorial Day weekend on the horizon…KC Cattle Company….which has carved out a niche selling top quality Wagyu beef online…is donating a healthy chunk of ground beef sales this week to a foundation benefitting veterans. It turns out KC Cattle founder Patrick Montgomery…is a combat veteran…having served in Afghanistan….where his brother in law was killed in combat. Cattle ranching and online sales are battles in their own right…but with his team of employees…also veterans…Montgomery’s business is winning fans. Even shipping cross country presents challenges..
“It’s kind of cool, the different packaging they offer to be able to accomplish that… shipping perishable goods across the country. It’s really kind of a logistical feat if you think about it. Like the packaging we just switched to, it’s a hundred percent recyclable.”
Food for thought. For more head to http://www.KCCattleCompany.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Spring is a great time for picture taking. Lots of family events and plenty of great opportunities outdoors. And when you want to show off those images, a company called Fracture makes it fast, fun and beautiful. What’s different. The prints are made directly onto glass. CEO Abhi Lokesh…
“We print directly onto the piece of glass creating this really unique, modern, clean, photo and frame all in one. And we then mount that piece of glass, with the ink on the back side of the glass to a piece of black foam core. And then we ship it to you with everything you need to hang it on your wall.”
Fracture has simplified the process…even shipping is included in the pricing…which starts at 20 dollars. For more, head to www.fractureme.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Google shakes up smart phone industry with lower cost Pixel 3a
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Google is shaking up the smart phone industry with the introduction of the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL….with a price tag starting at 399 dollars. The move combined with some more reasonably priced phones from Apple…is welcome news for consumers. It proves you don’t need to spend a thousand dollars or more for a great device with full features. Including, says Google’s Justin Burr…a top notch camera…
“Still got the great camera that has night sight which is great to take photos in low light when you don’t necessarily or can’t necessarily use the flash or don’t want to use the flash. Makes the colors still pop even in that low light scenario. Also still has the portrait mode on the front and back cameras. Also got 30 hours of battery life, which is helpful and yes, it does have a headphone jack.”
It’s on sale now. And look for big improvements coming to Google Assistant and a new version of Android as well.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

SylvanSport blends design and tech into growing camper line.
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Smart designs for the great outdoors. The folks at SylvanSport have been busy creating gadgets big and small. The Waylight is a walking stick with a built in LED knob on top….that you can poke into the ground to illuminate a campsite. The end is even designed to hold bamboo skewers for marshmallow roasting. Sylvan Sport is best known for its Go pop up camper that is light and designed to be towed by just about any vehicle. And new to the line…on pre-order now…is the Vast camper… Co-founder and CEO Tom Dempsey…
“The Vast is a much more substantial vehicle with all composite construction, two full size queen beds and a full bathroom with shower in a really, really lightweight package.
For more on the versatility head to SylvanSport.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. The pop up attachments that make holding a mobile phone more convenient and secure have won lots of fans. And the folks at Otterbox have now partnered with Pop Sockets to build those pop ups right into a line of protective cases. The company’s Kristen Tatti…
“What’s great about Otter Plus Pop is it’s actually built upon a couple of our different series platforms. Our Symmetry series..which is a very slim, sleek device case…and our Defender series which is the one we’re most well known for, our really rugged case.”
The nice thing is the pop up becomes part of the case…out of the way…when not being used. Pricing is typically about sixty to seventy dollars. For a bit more you can even design your own at Otterbox.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Cooluli brings versatility to portable cooling & warming.
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. A company called Cooluli can make spring and summer road trips a lot more convenient with tech that can keep food and beverages cold…or warm. The Concord 20LDX…is nicely designed with a digital temperature display and features a 20 litre capacity. It comes with cords for both home and vehicle use and sells for about 140 dollars. There are a variety of smaller sizes as well…and all use what is called Peltier thermoelectric technology for cooling and warming…all done through a chip that produces heat on one side and cold on the other. CEO Avi Kraminer…
“When it’s in cooling mode, there is a heat sync removing the heat form the chip and then dispersing it with a fan. While in heating mode, we do not disperse that heat.”
For more, head to http://www.Cooluli.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. About one and a quarter million Americans are living with type 1 diabetes and technology is playing a big role in helping to ease that burden with wearable insulin injection and glucose monitoring systems and more. Dr. Aaron Kowalski is the CEO of JDRF…formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation…and he calls it an amazing revolution…
“What these technologies have done is allowed for computer software that resides in the insulin pump or in a cell phone…to take some of that burden of management so to speak…off the person…and put it into the hands of a computer.”
He adds.. more breakthroughs are on the horizon with the help of JDRF…including interoperability of the systems and encapsulated stem cell devices.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

What makes Samsung's Galaxy S10+ a great flagship phone
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. It has been a pretty rough spring for Samsung with issues delaying the release of the Galaxy Fold. But the company’s S10 line of flagship devices is proving to be a winner. I’ve been checking out the S10+ and there are a lot of impressive new features. With a 41 hundred milliamp hour battery…you won’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of the day. In fact the Wireless PowerShare feature lets you use the phone as a wireless charger for other phones or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds. It is noticeably fast…with a Snapdragon 855 processor. And the camera..that can shoot ultra-wide…and in low light produces great pictures too. But with the big features…comes a pretty big price tag of about a thousand dollars. And that, my friend, is for the low end model.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. The folks at mPowerd are out with a new solar powered lantern…that you can control from an app for colorful or subtle lighting. And the Luci Smart Solar Light can also charge your mobile device in a pinch. Beyond having cool products…mPowerd has had a mission of providing clean energy lighting to areas of the world where it is most in need. Founder John Salzinger…
“So really consumers and corporations in the developed world subsidize affordability. And to date, we’ve impacted three million lives. And that’s out of about three billion people that are either off grid or have intermittent access at best.”
So there’s still a tremendous need. mPowerd is also out with a new Base light…its biggest and brightest ever.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Researchers in the U.K. have been using a video game to help determine whether people are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Michael Hornberger at the University of East Anglia says the results of testing with the game, titled Sea Hero Quest, have shown it to be an effective tool…
“And really the purpose of the game was really to collect large samples of people, how they navigate. So from our research we know that navigation, subtle navigation changes, are some of the first signs for Alzheimer’s disease. Many, many years even before memory problems occur.”
The doctor says early detection can help future outcomes. Deutsche Telekom created the game for the researchers. There is more information at www.SeaHeroQuest.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. It’s outdoor season and the folks at SkullCandy are out with rugged new headphones designed for the trails and more. The Riff Wireless on ear headphone features impressive sound, for the price of just fifty dollars…boasts battery life of up to 12 hours…with rapid charging and they are comfortable. Beyond that, the headband, made with Eastman’s Tritan copolyester…is designed for ultimate durability. SkullCandy Chief Product Officer Jeff Hutchings..
“In the case of Riff, because it is an entry level and could be someone’s first experience with the SkullCandy Brand, we wanted to take an extra measure, I guess. Which is why we sought out a material like Tritan which we knew would provide us a nearly indestructible headband for this.”
Perhaps an appropriate gift for grads and dads.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

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Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Kohl’s has found an unusual approach to dealing with the Amazon behemoth. The brick and mortar retail chain is partnering with Amazon…allowing its stores to be used for easy returns of merchandise purchased through Amazon. Why would they do that? The logic is if Amazon customers bring stuff back that way….chances are they will spend some money in Kohl’s while they are there. After a trial run in limited locations, Kohl’s is expanding the Amazon returns to all 1150 stores in July. Beyond that…Kohl’s will be selling Amazon smart home merchandise at branded kiosks in its stores as well. For consumers…the convenience seems like pretty good news. The irony is…the move by Kohl’s will actually make shopping via Amazon even more attractive.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Plugo from PlayShifu brings AR to STEM learning for kids.
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Combine augmented reality with physical magnetic blocks that become part of on screen fun….and you’ve got a very worthwhile educational toy called Plugo that can help kids learn everything from grammar to math. It’s from a company called PlayShifu. It has been on the market with other augmented reality learning toys like the Shifu Orboot smart globe and Minglings…that use AR to bring magnetic figurines to life. With Plugo…there’s a lot to like for both kids …ages four to ten….and parents. But keep in mind that you will need either an iPhone or iPad or an Android device… and that will require adult supervision…to keep an eye on things. The price, under 80 dollars. There’s more info at www.PlayShifu.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Spring time has been the season of peace treaties in the tech world. And that should be good for us consumers. Apple and Qualcomm ended their long running patent battle…and among the results will be Qualcomm’s chips coming back to the iPhone. And that will mean 5G coming soon for Apple loyalists. The deal, was not good news for Intel. In another truce…. Amazon and Google have ended their spat. And that will bring YouTube apps back to Amazon’s Fire TV…and in return…the Prime Video app will be available on Chromecast and Android TV devices. Not all disputes have vanished…Dish subscribers still have to turn else for HBO for instance. No word on when or if…that will ever be resolved.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Instead of buying a new Mac computer…often a more affordable option is to upgrade. Other World Computing has been helping Mac owners do that for years and now they are out with the Aura Pro X2 internal NVME Flash SSD…that can add a lot of zip and storage…up to 2 terabytes…to many MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini or Mac Pro models. Product Marketing Manager A J Gerth…
“So we can increase the capacity as well as the performance and have a lower power draw. So we’ve actually over the years been able to design better and better SSDs and this is the culmination of our expertise.”
With pricing starting at under 120 dollars for 240 gigabytes. The 2 terabyte SSD comes in at under 700 dollars.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. T-Mobile wants to be more than your mobile phone company. Not only is it branching out into home TV service…it is jumping into banking as well with T-Mobile Money. T-Mobile’s Director of Marketing for Financial Services Tiffany Minor says the idea was to take some of the pain points out of personal checking…
“And so we created a no fee, no minimums, checking account paying 4 percent interest up to three thousand dollars and 1 percent thereafter for the everyday checking account and with an ATM network bigger than B of A, Chase or Wells.”
Through a partnership with Bank Mobile. To get the higher interest rate, you do need to be a T-Mobile phone subscriber. There’s more info at www.T-MobileMoney.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

GEIO battling robots feature AR fun and more.
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Battling robots have been made popular on TV…and while you may not be ready for a circular saw robot in the family room…GEIO has created a fun and safe alternative with it’s AR Battle Robots. They are equipped with sensors and cameras and artificial intelligence. And combined with the app that turns your mobile device into a controller…they can use augmented reality to make the battles even more fun. And seem more real. With a single GEIO Robot you can play against virtual enemies…but the real fun comes when battling head to head. And on top of that…the robots can be programmed through a graphical interface…making them great for learning as well. The price….about 200 dollars …on Amazon.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Chances are learning to play the guitar has been one of your long lost goals. Well, with online learning, maybe it’s time to get busy. The folks at Fender …have updated Fender Play…and it is designed to help get you started…and keep on going… (sound) Ethan Kaplan is the Chief Digital Officer at Fender…
“When you first load up Fender Play it shows you exactly what you’ve learned, where you left off, if there are some lessons that you didn’t focus on, lets you jump right back to them.”
What I like is that you can tailor the lessons to your schedule…and you can use just about any digital screen. You can try it for free for two weeks…at www.Fender.com/play…after that the price is about ten dollars a month.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. You probably know Call of Duty as one of the best selling video game franchises of all time with over 250 million copies sold. But with help from the company behind it, Activision Blizzard, it has also been helping thousands of veterans find good paying jobs through the Call of Duty Endowment. Executive Director Dan Goldenberg…
“To date, we’ve funded the placement of more than 54 thousand vets into high quality jobs, jobs that are on average last year paying more than 58 thousand dollars where 87 percent of the vets are still in the jobs six months later and 93 percent of the jobs are full time roles.”
The goal is to reach 100 thousand placement in the U.S. and the U.K. by 2023. You can learn more at www.callofdutyendowment.org. You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Digital photography is booming…since most of us are carrying around pretty good cameras built into our phones these days. But it is fun and worthwhile to take some of those images and make them even better. Whether you are using your phone or a higher end camera…the latest version of Exposure…X4.5 from Alien Skin Software can make you more creative. CEO Finley Lee says among the new features is the ability to use what are called LUTs…
“So LUTs are these recipes for transforming colors in an image ..they got really popular in the videography world. And so now you can use those LUTs in Exposure.”
Using Exposure 4.5 is fun, fast and easy and you see the effects on your photos before you select which one to use. For more head to www.alienskin.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Looking for a basic surround sound speaker system? Logitech’s Z606 is a compact system with front, rear and center speakers along with a subwoofer…which the speakers are wired to… and Bluetooth connectivity. 160 watts of sound total…and you can find the system for under 130 dollars. As a replacement for built in TV or computer monitor speakers, the Z606 set up is a definite upgrade. But the wired speakers may not be practical in some situations….and the lack of optical and HDMI inputs is another minus. On the plus side….the sound…given the relatively low price…is pretty decent…and you can switch easily between Bluetooth and wired inputs. For more, head to Logitech.com. You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

EyeQ acquires Athentech to grow AI in image editing
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. With the acquisition of Athentech…a software company best known for making it easy to improve photos with Perfectly Clear…EyeQ is poised to bring more artificial intelligence into the picture. Chief Revenue Officer Ziv Gillat..
“The pictures that come out of the cameras and smartphones are good, but often they need to have some corrections. So for example, if you want to go and print a book from Shutterfly or Blurb, you’re going to want to have the best quality possible because you’re spending money on this. And so all those companies have been using us for years to correct images behind the scenes.”
In fact, the company’s software corrects about 11 billion photos a year. And there’s more to come. Head to www.EyeQ.photos for more.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

GoSun Stove coming Hybrid Solar & Electric Oven & more
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. The innovations at GoSun Stove are continuing. Founder Patrick Sherwin has built a company around the concept of using the sun’s energy to cook meals completely off grid…using reflectors that focus on an evacuated tube that surround a cooking tray. The largest model, the GoSun Grill, does an amazing job…has enough capacity for food for a typical family…and even keeps the food warm once you are done cooking. Now, Sherwin’s Hybrid Solar and Electric Oven is being manufactured to arrive this summer…and can cook indoors or out and even on the road. And a Solar Cooler is on the way too..
“We’re able to store enough energy and keep the compressor, that’s highly efficient and well insulated, keep the compressor running all day with just a little two pound lithium ion battery.”
Stay tuned and follow along at GoSun.co.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Giving credit where it is due. In August of last year, T-Mobile CEO John Legere unveiled his latest so called Un-carrier move. He called it the company’s new Team of Experts…
“We find a pain point. Where do you find it? Customers tell you what hurts. What they want solved. And then the Un-carrier solves them. Forever.”
And I’ve put that promise to the test with T-Mobile’s new team of experts…without having to wait forever on hold…team members, many apparently at a call center based in Maine, are personable, tenacious about solving problems and follow up with their direct contact info just in case. T-Mobile really has taken away the pain points when it comes to customer service. And I really do hope it is forever.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

How does Jeff Bezos touch your world?
Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. How is the richest man in the world…Jeff Bezos affecting your life? Not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing….just that it is a thing. Say…you wake up in the morning and check your email and read the newspaper on an Amazon Kindle. Perhaps that newspaper is the Washington Post. Time for breakfast…and maybe those eggs, that banana and the bread you are about to toast came from Whole Foods. And you bought that toaster on Amazon too. Same goes for the coffee maker. Time for work? An Amazon warehouse is the biggest new employer in the neighborhood. Then home for dinner…with more from Whole Foods…or maybe there’s an order waiting from Amazon Pantry. Then you might an enjoy an evening watching that TV…purchased on Amazon…watching a movie on that Fire TV Stick. Don’t forget to turn on the Ring security system before bed.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Think you burn a lot of energy at the gym? Fitness equipment maker SportsArt is helping to make all of that energy useful…by turning it into electricity. That’s the concept behind the company’s Eco-Power line of fitness equipment. The company’s chief technology officer Ruben Mejia..
“If you think of a hamster running on a hamster wheel we kind of have that same concept where the equipment is the hamster wheel and you are the hamster. So as your motion is turning a belt or a stride on an elliptical or a wheel on a cycle, it’s actually powering a generator which is producing electricity.”
Which in turn can help power the gym. They’re planning Eco-Power equipment for high end home gyms as well. Find more at GoSportsArt.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Whether you love to bike or hike or camp….the need to see where you are going…and sometimes allow others to see you…can be crucial. The folks at BioLite…best known for their innovative stoves and Firepit….are out with a HeadLamp that is rechargeable, comfortable and versatile. Director of Marketing Erica Rosen…
“We’re making a brand new, handsfree light. It is the HeadLamp 330 and it is a 330 lumen USB rechargeable headlamp. And what really sets it apart is that it is designed to be so comfortable that you’ll actually forget that you are wearing it.”
The battery placement on the back is key to that comfort and it can power the light for up to 40 hours on the low setting. It also features red night vision and strobe settings. The price…about fifty dollars. Find more at www.BioLiteEnergy.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. When it comes to musical instruments and music education, Yamaha does some pretty amazing things. And one of those things is the use of technology to allow musicians and budding musicians to practice brass instruments, hear themselves at full volume, without disturbing others even in the same room. We’ve tested Yamaha’s Silent Brass…the trombone version….with a young musician and …wow! What looks like a standard mute has a pickup that connects to the small Silent Brass controller. Headphones are plugged into it for the musician…and this trumpet clip from Yamaha’s web site shows you what they hear….
(sound)
Pricing varies by instrument but is typically under 200 dollars. Find more at www.usa.yamaha.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Water damage in your home can be a nightmare….and it happens all too often. There are something like 14 thousand water damage insurance claims filed per day. A high tech, easy install device called Guardian by Elexa…can automatically shut off the water supply when a leak is detected and can really be a lifesaver. Director of Sales Jon Storino says it attaches to a typical quarter turn ball valve…
“And it sits on top of that. And with our leak detectors that communicate directly back to the Guardian, when a leak is detected it will automatically shut the water off to the home, preventing further water flow and damage in the house.”
Pricing starts at about two hundred dollars. Find more at www.ElexaUSA.com.
You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Click for Hue from RunLessWire adds convenience
I’ve been a fan of home automation and things like connected light bulbs for years. They really can make things more convenient when used with motion sensors or voice control. But sometimes an extra physical switch can simplify things…and a company called RunLessWire is making a clever…no power needed add on switch that works with the Philips Hue line. President Jan Finlinson…
“One of the really exciting things we’re able to bring to this market for the first time is a switch that looks like every other switch that smart home enthusiasts can install and appease any other members or guests so that they can interact with the lights in a way that they are comfortable and familiar with.”
It’s called Click for Hue, installs easily and sells for under sixty dollars. For more check out www.RunLessWire.com.

FNDN fpunder goes from paintball pro to heated clothing.
Travis Lemanski is a pretty well known name among serious Paintball players…and is co-founder of Infamous Paintball. But he is also the founder of FNDN…foundation….a company that is making its mark using technology in a variety of heated clothing…
“So we started with heated gloves. I mean obviously people have all experienced whether they are skiing or shoveling snow or being outside, whatever, cold hands. Then we ventured into apparel where we’ve done heated vests and heated jackets. And that’s been super successful for us. We’ve gone another direction…which is heated base layers.”
Still handy for cold evenings in early spring. FNDN has done an impressive job combining style with technology. The company is looking to give customers options when it comes to which batteries will work with their garments. For more…head to www.fndn.com.

OWC Continues Growth and Expansion.
Other World Computing…or OWC…continues to innovate and grow. CEO Larry O’Connor recently announced the acquisition of high speed storage maker InXtron…and there have been others as well. OWC has specialized in helping users to upgrade. O’Connor says that includes adding solid state drives and more…
“There’s all these incredible systems, you can even go back a decade, you got systems that are extremely, even two decades in some cases…machines that are still viable for the applications that they were put in place for. And systems 2012 and later are still supported with the latest operating systems…you can ramp them up with a 2 terabyte SSD inside. The docks that can add all the new ports to new systems and old systems alike.”
The line up is impressive at OWC.com.

Plantronics and Polycom combine to form Poly.
Poly is the name of a new brand created by the purchase of Polycom by Plantronics. Chris Thorson is Senior Director of Product Marketing…
“As we went and started to do the actual research, we said obviously there’s a long history with Plantronics starting back in the aviation days over fifty years ago and headsets that went to the moon. And on the Polycom side, also a rich history of conference phones…over five million devices there just on the conference space in rooms there. So there was a long, rich history of both and it feels almost odd to pick one over the other so we looked at it together and said, you know, we really think we can bring these two companies together and move forward with a new name, now Poly. Poly really meaning many.”
And for more…on some of the latest…check out Poly.com.

Amazon Future Engineers program provides computer science courses & more.
A program called Amazon Future Engineer is aiming to make a big difference in the education of thousands of young people. What Amazon is doing is investing fifty million dollars…funding introductory and advanced placement computer science courses at more than one thousand high schools across the country…many of them in underprivileged areas. Beyond that the program will support computer science access for many students in younger grades. Amazon’s Allison Flicker…
“We’re starting with kids all the way in kindergarten and are actually sticking with kids as they go into college and enter into getting different internships throughout their college careers.”
Of course, Amazon hopes that one day, some of those future engineers will become employees. There is more information, including for schools and teachers, at www.amazonfutureengineer.com.

Apple wants to be your top choice for streaming TV.
How do you stream TV and movies. However it is today…Apple is aiming to change that…or at least add to it with a new app that will be available on TVs…Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV. Apple TV will let you buy and rent shows…subscribe to premium channels….and this fall the offerings will include Apple TV Plus….with original content being developed by some of the biggest names in show business from Steven Spielberg to Oprah Winfrey…
“There has never been a moment quite like this one.”
Of the talent Apple has lined up, CEO Tim Cook says…
“ They’ve impacted our culture, society and we’re so excited and so humbled to be working with them.”
For consumers…the battle to create quality programming…is a good thing…if you can afford the subscription fees.

Google shaking up video game world with Stadia.
Google is shaking up the world of video games….unveiling Stadia…a cloud gaming platform that will turn just about any device running the Chrome browser…into a game machine. At this month’s Game Developer Conference, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said…
“If you think about games, there are a lot of barriers for users to play high end games. Beautiful graphics really need high end consoles or PCs. And games don’t have instant access. Think about the way the Web works, you can easily share a link and it works seamlessly. We want games to feel that way too. Instantly enjoyable with access for everyone.
Google’s tag line for Stadia is No Boxes, No Downloads, No Limits. It is due to arrive this year..pricing hasn’t been announced.

Wearables market growing, evolving: IDC
We are buying more and more smart wearable devices. IDC is out with a forecast that says the worldwide market for wearable devices…including wireless headphones with smart assistants…will grow more than fifteen percent this year. Watches….like the Apple Watch…are leading the way…and much of the focus there is on health care. IDC Research Director Ramon Llamas…
“We’re not at the point where smart watches are diagnosing your physical condition. I think we’re several cycles away from that. But that certainly says something. And Apple also is not the only one. Fitbit has its own collection of smart watches.”
And others like Samsung as well. IDC says the wearables phenomenon is just getting started. Check out the IDC.com Web site for more.

An Outdoor Sensor from Philips Hue
The Philips Hue brand has been a pioneer in connected lighting for the smart home and one of the newest additions to the line up is the Outdoor Sensor. It is a motion sensor that can be used indoors or out to trigger Hue lights. I’ve found the addition to be both reliable and very useful. Product Marketing Director Mike Deschamps…
“Really great product, fully outdoor rated, can be easily installed. Battery powered, but will still last for up to two years. And now you can really have more of that peace of mind and security from your outdoor space.”
Utilizing some of the recent additions for outdoor lighting from Philips Hue….or to trigger indoor lights to come on as you approach the door. The price…about fifty dollars. There’s more at MeetHue.com.

More new iPads from Apple. Apple says the Mini just got mightier. A new iPad Mini is on the way along with a new iPad Air. The designs are a bit of a throw back….with the once familiar white bezels….and even a return to the Lightning port. But the new iPads will be able to use Apple’s Pencil stylus….a 99 dollar add on. The displays are better and there are faster processors…along with speedier LTE connections available as an option. The new iPad Air starts at about 500 dollars for a 64 gigabyte model while a 256 gigabyte version comes in at 649 dollars. The new iPad Minis are 100 dollars less. The ability for mobile connections adds about 130 dollars. For iPad fans….count me as one of those….these are more affordable options that the latest iPad Pro designs.

Mobility for all ...greatest promise of autonomous vehicles.
When it comes to self driving vehicles….there’s an awful lot of confusion out there. A recent Triple A survey found nearly three quarters of us have a negative impression of self driving vehicles or even the testing of them. At Princeton University, the faculty chair for autonomous vehicle engineering, Alain Kornhauser, says those perceptions will have to be turned around…and understanding some of the benefits is a great place to start. Full disclosure…I co-host the Smart Driving Cars podcast with Professor Kornhauser…who advocates for the technology to be used to create mobility for those most in need…
“The biggest opportunity for this mobility is to serve those who need it the most. But what we need to do is figure out what is it that mobility disadvantaged community really needs.”
Those working on the technology…and governmental agencies…he says…should spend a lot of time listening.

Anker's PowerHouse 200 keeps you charged anywhere. If the arrival of spring signals more time outdoors for you….maybe even heading to a campsite…Anker can keep your gear charged up for days with the PowerHouse 200. This isn’t a pocket sized battery pack…weighing about five pounds. What it delivers is lots of juice via AC, USB, USB C or 12 volt car outlet. 57 thousand 600 milliamp hours. So you can power phones, tablets, laptops, lights, fans and more any time, anywhere. Recharging the PowerHouse 200 is done either by plugging into a wall outlet…or via an optional solar panel. The price…about 350 dollars.

Samsung's Galaxy S10 line up arrives. Samsung’s new Galaxy S10 phones have arrived featuring three different flavors…the S10e, The S10 and the S10 plus. This summer the S10 5G is due to join the line up. The new devices are loaded with new features…like Wireless PowerShare that can turn the phones into wireless chargers for other devices that use the Qi standard for wireless charging. The camera features an ultra wide lens and digital stabilization for video.

Autowit 12V Batteryless Portable Car Jump Starter & more. A combination air purifier and humidifier for your car or desk. Autowit’s Fresh 2 is about the size of large travel mug and does an impressive job of delivering cleaner air with a Nanosilver pre filter, a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter. And you have the option of adding water to a chamber to add moisture to the air. The brand, part of Gen High Tech, is perhaps best known for its Super Capacitor Jump Starter.

VTech unveils new LeapFrog handheld game. The Leap Frog brand at Vtech has come up with a new twist on handheld gaming for kids. The upcoming RockIt Twist is designed for four to eight year olds and will come with a dozen pre-loaded games…that are designed to be fun and educational.

Saying farewell to Jibo. They called it technology with a heart when the makers of the social robot Jibo created a successful crowd funding campaign…raising 3.6 million dollars in 2014. But now …following the sale of the company last year…. the servers that provide the voice interaction and essentially the fun behind Jibo…are being shut down. Jibo broke the news to owners

Mirror is the name of a new fitness system for the home that connects you to on demand or live workouts with professional trainers. It was created by entrepreneur Brynn Putnam…a former professional dancer at the New York City Ballet, Harvard grad and owner of the Refine Method fitness studios in New York….

Loop engineers earplugs for safe, stylish music enjoyment. Live music is great….but I know first hand what it can do your hearing…for hours…days….or in some cases permanently. A company called Loop has engineered earplugs that allow you to enjoy music…while protecting your hearing. Our testing has found Loop to be comfortable, stylish and most important of all…effective.

Evolution Devices among finalists for Toyota's Mobility Unlimited Challenge. Using technology to improve the lives of millions of people with lower limb paralysis is the goal of the Mobility Unlimited Challenge…sponsored by the Toyota Mobility Foundation and the Nesta Challenge Prize Center. Five finalists are receiving grants of 500 thousand dollars…with the final winner of the challenge…being selected next year….receiving one million dollars. Among the finalists is Evolution Devices…where Pierluigi Montovani is co-founder and CEO..

Early learning goes online:Waterford Institute Upstart Online education has been around for many years now…and for parents of pre-schoolers…the ability to bring early education into the home …can be a tremendous help. The non-profit Waterford Institute has been working with a variety of states to make its kindergarten readiness curriculum available. And they are working on a version that will be directly available to consumers as well.

Amazon wants to deliver to your garage in partnership with Chamberlain. Amazon is working to make it easier and more secure to get deliveries into your home…even when you are not there. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of giving front door access for deliveries when they aren’t around…but what about access to your garage. Amazon is partnering with the Chamberlain Group to give homeowners that option.

Raven from KlashWerks brings safety and security to vehicles. I’ve been testing a device designed to smarten up your car from a company called KlashWerks. Raven plugs into your vehicle’s OBD II port, gives you a heads up turn by turn navigation display….as well as forward and rear facing cameras. There are important safety features…that can alert parents for instance if a young driver is speeding or braking hard…with the ability to remotely monitor the cameras. Trip information can be shared too. With a sim card installed Raven can also act as an LTE hot spot.

We’ve had a chance to have some hands on time with Meural…powered by Netgear… that is focused on bringing art into the home with beautiful connected and framed digital displays. It comes with access to good selection… with a subscription…50 dollars a year…you have access to Meural’s full collection from leading museums and artists from all over the world. And you can show off your own images as well. Meural is available now…but the next gen arrives in the summer.

Dolby plays key role in many Oscar movies. Not only were the Academy Awards once again at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood….but the audio and video technology company played a prominent role in many of the films that were up for awards.

Anker's latest Liberty Air earphones and hybrid portable charger. The latest true wireless earphones from the folks at Anker are the impressive Liberty Air. They are waterproof enough for the gym…have a variety of tips for comfort…battery life of about five hours on a charge…sound very good and sell for under 80 dollars. Also new is Anker’s PowerCore+ 1900 PD Hybrid Portable Charger and USB C Hub.

Using AI to create flavor combinations: IBM & McCormick. Creating flavor combinations using artificial intelligence. IBM Research has partnered with McCormick to create a line of one dish recipe mixes that will soon be on the market.

Zoom continues audio recording innovation. Zoom is a company that has been around for years creating versatile recording gear, whether you need a recorder to take along in your pocket or to record that band…or sound for video. The company has a new H3 VR is an incredibly compact device using ambisonics to record immersive sound.

Ecovacs launching AI powered vacuum robot. covacs is a company that has been winning lots of fans for its affordable line of Deebot floor cleaning robots and Winbot window cleaning robots. Performance is impressive and entry level pricing is under two hundred dollars. And the next generation…the Deebot Ozmo 960…will include artificial intelligence.

Gourmia shows off latest connected kitchen gadgets. Gourmia is adding more smarts to the company’s line up of small kitchen appliances and gadgets. Gourmia has had a connected coffee maker and grinder on the market and a Sous Vide digital cooker, and there is more to come, including a new connected multi-cooker.

Using your phone to make your feet more comfortable: Dr. Scholl's. Today's Techstination. Using your phone…to make your feet more comfortable. Dr. Scholl’s has launched an app that lets you scan your feet to create 3D Custom Inserts for your shoes. You can design them yourself too.

The NTSB's push to battle distracted driving and more. Today's Techstination.
The National Transportation Safety Board this month issued its 2019-2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety improvements. And number one on the list for the next two years…is the battle against distracted driving. The use of mobile devices by drivers is an epidemic that is claiming lives by the thousands…and the NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt says…

Lots of households have robotic vacuums whirring around floors helping to clean up. How about a robotic device that can fold your laundry. FoldiMate is the name of a company …based in Israel….that is turning the idea into a reality. Founder Gal Rozov showed it to us at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show…